Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jan. 01, 2017
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares			7.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2016			$ 699
Adoption of share-based compensation accounting standard update			39
Balance at January 1, 2017	$ 647		699		$ 738
Net income			160
Other comprehensive income	(3)	$ (20)	15	$ (32)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value			(350)
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends			(24)
Deemed dividend on modification of Series A convertible preferred stock	0	0	(4)	0
Redemption of Series A convertible preferred stock			87
Employee stock compensation expense	22	$ 16	41	29
Tax witholdings related to vesting of stock based awards			(24)	(7)
Proceeds from employee stock plans			8	$ 6
Balance at June 30, 2017	647		647
NCR Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2016			695
Adoption of share-based compensation accounting standard update			39
Balance at January 1, 2017	642		695		734
Net income			159
Other comprehensive income			15
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value			(350)
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends			(24)
Deemed dividend on modification of Series A convertible preferred stock			(4)
Redemption of Series A convertible preferred stock			87
Employee stock compensation expense			41
Tax witholdings related to vesting of stock based awards			(24)
Proceeds from employee stock plans			8
Balance at June 30, 2017	642		642
Non-Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2016			4
Adoption of share-based compensation accounting standard update			0
Balance at January 1, 2017	5		4		$ 4
Net income			1
Other comprehensive income			0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value			0
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends			0
Deemed dividend on modification of Series A convertible preferred stock			0
Redemption of Series A convertible preferred stock			0
Employee stock compensation expense			0
Tax witholdings related to vesting of stock based awards			0
Proceeds from employee stock plans			0
Balance at June 30, 2017	$ 5		$ 5